Electrician
What is the work like?
As a qualified domestic or installation electrician, you would fit, test and repair the circuits and wiring found in homes and businesses. Your work might range from fitting a bathroom shower circuit in a customer's home to laying equipment cabling in a major new office development.
Your tasks would vary from job to job, but may include:
- reading architects or contractors' plans to work out where to fit wiring, sockets and points
- carrying out an initial installation, known as the 'first fix' – fitting wiring along wall cavities and through ceilings and floors
- fitting fuse boxes, circuit-breakers and earth terminals
- mounting back-boxes on walls to take plug sockets and points
- carrying out a 'second fix' – connecting wiring to sockets, switches, light fittings and appliances.
On commercial projects you would have similar tasks but on a larger scale, for example:
- laying the cabling connecting office equipment to power supplies and computer networks
- installing fire alarms and security systems like CCTV
- inspecting and testing wiring systems and equipment
- fixing faults highlighted by inspections – known as remedial repair work.
See the job profile for Industrial Electrician for more details about working in manufacturing and engineering.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To qualify as an electrician, you must have the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, which is awarded by City & Guilds (course code 2356) and EMTA Awards Limited. If you are already working in the industry but do not have the NVQ, please refer straight to the training and development section below.
You may be able to start as an apprentice with an electrical contractor or building company. Most apprentices start between 16 to 19, although entry may be possible over 19. For more details, see the apprenticeship contacts for your country below.
If you are not eligible for an apprenticeship scheme and not employed in the industry, you could take the City & Guilds (2330) Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology levels 2 and 3 at a college. The Certificate is open to all ages, although there is strong competition for places.
Technical certificates do not prove that you are a qualified electrician, only the full NVQ can do this; but they do cover the theory and some of the practical skills needed to move on to the NVQ qualification.
Industry bodies strongly recommend that you gain a placement or employment with an electrical contractor as soon as possible after you start the technical certificate, so that you can complete the NVQ. Your training provider may help with placements but you could also contact companies directly.
See the SummitSkills website for more details about a career as an electrician.
Overseas qualified electricians
If you have qualified as an electrician outside the UK, you must register with the Electrotechnical Card Scheme (ECS). You will need to do three things to register:
- contact UK NARIC to find out what your qualifications are equivalent to in the UK
- complete the City & Guilds 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations (2382)
- pass the ECS Health and Safety Assessment.
You will also need to contact the self-certification training providers below for details about of how to meet Part P requirements of the Building Regulations.
What further training and development can I do?
If you are working in the industry, you can take the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, awarded by City & Guilds (course code 2356) or EMTA Awards Limited.
The NVQ contains several options but for installation work, you would take the one for Electrical Installation (Building & Structures). This option includes the C&G (2330) Technical Certificate.
Your employer may ask you to take two other qualifications:
- City & Guilds (2391) Inspection, Testing and Certification of Installations
- City & Guilds (2382) 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.
You could also take further training courses for professional development purposes, for example the City & Guilds In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377), often known as portable appliance testing (PAT). Visit the Electrical Contractors' Association website for details about training in the electrical industry, including contract management, contract law and estimating.
Electrical Safety and Part P
Part P of the Building Regulations states that certain types of household electrical work must be approved by a certified contractor or building inspector. You can certify your own work by completing a short Part P training scheme. See the Part P contacts below for details about certification training, entry requirements and information about the electrical work that requires approval.
Entry requirements for a scheme will depend on your qualifications and experience. Some providers offer extra training if you need it, for instance, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations. Some do not, so please check with the providers.
Where can I go for more information?
Tel: 08000 688336 Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships: England
Tel: 08000 150600
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Careers Wales
www.careerswales.com
Electrical Training Trust - Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 2565 0750
www.ett-ni.org
Part P Self-Certification Schemes
NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme
Tel: 0870 013 0382
www.niceic.org.uk
BRE Certification
Tel: 0870 609 6093
www.partp.co.uk
ELECSA
Tel: 0870 749 0080
www.elecsa.org.uk
British Standards Institution
Tel: 01442 278607
www.bsi-global.com
National Association of Inspectors & Testers
Tel: 0870 444 1392
www.napit.org.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Apprentices in the later stages of training can earn around £17,000 a year.
- Salaries for newly qualified electricians are normally up to £19,500.
- With experience, this can rise to between £22,000 and £25,000.
- Experienced electricians with specialist grading can earn up to £30,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work a basic 37-hour week, Monday to Friday, although overtime is often available. You may have to work shifts or be part of an on-call system, for example, if providing cover for a 24-hour supermarket.
Most of your work would be inside homes and businesses, although on a construction site, these may be part-finished buildings. You would travel from site to site and some contracts may involve working away from home.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good practical skills to work with hand and power tools
- the ability to follow technical drawings and instructions
- a methodical approach to work and the ability to pay close attention to detail
- a commitment to keep up to date with industry developments
- the ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
- good communication skills
- normal colour vision
- a thorough understanding of electrical safety rules and regulations.
What opportunities are there?
As a qualified electrician your opportunities will be very good throughout the UK. For example, in the building industry, professional bodies like ConstructionSkills estimate that an extra 14,000 electricians will be needed over the next few years.
You could find work with a wide range of organisations, including electrical contractors and building firms, manufacturing and engineering companies, kitchen, bathroom and shopfitting companies, local authorities and public services like the NHS.
Your options for career development would include promotion to supervisory and management jobs in all areas of electrical work. You may also find openings in electrical estimating and contract management. Self-employment is another common option.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
bConstructive (for list of building firms)
Construction Jobs Network
Jobcentre Plus
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